Vedat Tek

Vedat Tek
Born	1873 Istanbul
Died	1942 (aged 68–69) Istanbul
Nationality	Turkish
Alma mater	Académie Julian, Paris École Centrale Paris and Ecole des Beaux Arts, Paris, France
Occupation	Architect
Buildings	Second Turkish Grand National Assembly Building, Ankara Istanbul Main Post Office, Sirkeci Istanbul Land Registry and Cadastre Building, Sultanahmet, Kastamonu Governor's Office

Mehmet Vedat Tek (1873–1942) was a notable Turkish architect, who has been one of the leading figures of the First Turkish National Architectural Movement.

Of Cretan Turkish origin, Vedat Tek was born in Istanbul to the governor of Baghdad Province Giritli Sırrı Pasha and composer Leyla Saz as their second son. His older brother was Yusuf Razi Bel (1870–1947), who later became an engineer.

After finishing Galatasaray High School in Istanbul, he was sent to France for higher education. He attended Académie Julian for studies in painting and then studied at the École Centrale Paris, graduating with a degree in civil engineering before he got his further education in architecture at the École des Beaux Arts in Paris. He thus became the first formally educated Turkish architect.

After returning home in 1897, Vedat Tek contributed with his projects to the forming of the first Turkish national architecture movement (Turkish: Birinci Ulusal Mimarlık) along with Mimar Kemaleddin Bey. He served awhile as the chief architect of the Engineering Corps at the Ministry of War. Later, Sultan Mehmet V appointed him chief court architect.

He also gave lectures at Sanayi-i Nefise Mekteb-i (today's Mimar Sinan University of Fine Arts) and Mühendis Mekteb-i Alisi (today's Istanbul Technical University). Vedat Tek was one of the first Turkish lecturers at the Academy of Fine Arts.

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